Treating
and preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Isn’t a Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome quite common word heart around those who work by the desk/computer all
day?
Not necessarily someone
who has a wrist pain has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But many chronic wrist issues
may lead to this syndrome.
First,
what is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
It has a very
distinctive symptom-pain (often intense at night), tingling and numbness in the
three middle fingers and half of the thumb. This happens due to median nerve
compression.
“The problem,
however, is not always caused by repetitive motion. Anything that decreases the
space in the wrist joint and compresses the median nerve can lead to Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome. For example fluid retention due to pregnancy or thyroid
disease can narrow carpal tunnel, as can cysts, old fractures, or arthritic
changes in the bones. One reason women are so much more likely to get Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome is that their wrists tend to smaller with less room to spare”
(1)
Left untreated or not
prevented Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may lead to permanent nerve damage and muscle
weakness in the hands.
The good news is that
even if you were told “You need surgery” or you were just put on medications (
which rarely treat the condition) always consider a safer and noninvasive
alternative first.
And
here Yoga Therapy can help!
In the video, you can
see the demonstration of a simple yet effective asanas and exercises that can
help to release tension and restore muscle balance. The idea of all this is to:
-Reduce the stress both
physical and emotional (e.g. make breaks if your work is the major factor of
the problem; meditate and do pranayama which helps to reduce tension and
anxiety tremendously! (you can also look up my previous posts).
-Change the habits that
increase pain, like say you drive and usually keep your hands on the steering
wheel at 10 and 2 o’clock? This position increases tension in the neck and
shoulders and may compress the root of the median nerve. So, if you change the
hand grip to 4 and 8 o’clock that should help a least a little bit.
Also, check if your
workstation is set up ergonomically ( you can look up my previous posts about
it).
-Release the tension in
your myofascial system ( you may visit a skilled massage therapist or other
health-related professional who does hands on treatments OR watch my
video and try a simple release for your tensed arm muscles).
-Correct and readjust
the posture (Tadasana (Mountain) position is a great postural alignment
reminder, and so are the other asanas that I demonstrate in the video).
-Most importantly
protect your wrists! I am not talking about wrist braces; I am talking about
using your fists or elbows instead of hands while putting more weight on them.
These are just basic
steps that you can find in the video above.
Love your wrists and love
Yourself!
Thank you for reading,
ask and discuss, I am always open!
Namaste!
Brigita
Recourses:
1. McCall, Timothy
(2007). Yoga as Medicine: the yogic prescription for health and healing: a yoga
journal book, p. xvii. Bantam, New York. ISBN 978-0-553-38406-2
2. http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=12031
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